5 great IPL careers that are moving towards the twilight of their careers

Indian Premier League has been a gala cricketing fest for cricket lovers all over the world. Since the inception of the Indian Premier League, many players have left an indelible mark on the tournament through their outstanding performances. Some of these have gone to have remarkable IPL careers with brilliant numbers reflecting the kind of impact they have had on the tournament and it is such careers that have made IPL what it is- a tournament full of energy and entertainment. With the IPL now coming into its 11th year, many of the great IPL careers might be approaching the twilight of their careers.

Let us have a look at 5 of them:

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#5 Shane Watson

Shane Watson: The Australian all-rounder scored only 71 runs in 8 matches last season

The man of the tournament in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League, Shane Watson is definitely past his prime. A more than useful all-rounder, Watson is an attacking batsman and a medium pace bowler who can pick up some useful wickets in the middle overs and can also bowl in pressure situations.

However, with just 71 runs in 8 matches in last season and 5 wickets with the ball, Watson had a below average IPL 2017. No wonder RCB were not too keen to retain his services this season. Having retired from international cricket earlier, Watson may soon call it time in his IPL career too. With MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, Shane Watson would love to commence the finishing stage of his career on a high, just like how he started it.

#4 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh was India's preferred spinner in the 2011 World Cup

Bhajji has now become Bhajju pa- indication of how his responsibility in the team has changed. From someone who would just bowl his quota of 4 overs, he now mentors the young spinners as well. The preferred spinner in the 2011 ICC World Cup winning team, Harbhajan Singh is among the all-time highest IPL wicket takers list with 127 wickets in 136 matches.

In the seventh and eighth season of the IPL, Harbhajan Singh was at his best picking up 14 and 18 wickets respectively for the Mumbai Indians. Although the Turbanator had a decent season last year with 8 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 6.48, Karn Sharma was preferred over Harbhajan Singh in the latter stages of the tournament.

The 38-year old who has had an illustrious IPL career may not be that far from the end of his IPL career. Bhajji will be seen in the yellows of Chennai Super Kings and this would be his first stint playing under MS Dhoni in the Indian Premiere League.

#3 Chris Gayle

Gayle is only playing T20 leagues across the globe.

“Universe Boss’’ as he likes to call himself is all about power hitting and those muscled slogs down the ground. He is a terror for the bowlers, a demoralizer for the opponent captain and when he gets going there is hardly anything you can do as a fielding unit because no boundary is big enough for him and no total beyond his reach.

The highest number of sixes in T20 Cricket, the most number of centuries in T20 Cricket, the first to score century in a T20 International- Chris Gayle has all such records to his name in this format and is currently playing only T20 leagues all across the globe and entertaining audiences.

On many occasions, Gayle has single handedly won games for his team. In 2012 season Gayle scored a massive 733 runs at a strike rate of 160, becoming the orange cap holder for the season. The following year came his unbelievable knock of 175 runs against the Pune Warriors India, a knock that left the world spell bound by what he could do on a cricket field.

However, with just 200 runs in 9 matches in the previous season, Gayle was not retained by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was picked up by the Kings XI Punjab, only when he was up for bidding the third time in the auctions. The Jamaican star is drifting towards the last stage of his career.

#2 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj has been India's go to man in big tournaments

One of the best limited overs player from India, Yuvraj Singh is a big match player. When the going gets tough, Yuvraj Singh has always risen to the occasion. Be it helping India win in the inaugural World T20 or the ICC World Cup 2011, Singh reserves his best performances for such occasions.

With over 2500 runs in 120 matches and even having hat-tricks to his name, Singh is a team man and a fighter. Singh captained the Kings XI Punjab side in the first season and is back with the Punjab side in the 11th season and the franchise would truly hope that Yuvraj Singh fires for them. A Yuvraj in full form in the middle order is as dangerous as it can get.

With 252 runs in 12 matches, Yuvraj had an average IPL season last year and is currently not in contention for the Indian national team. With Yuvraj claiming to take a call on his career after 2019, India’s 36-year old champion south paw might have just a couple more IPLs left in him.

#1 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum etched his name in the history books in the first ever IPL game with 158* against RCB

The stylish brute force, Brendon McCullum has the ability to make a mockery of any bowling attack on his day. McCullum was responsible for the terrific start to the IPL with his superb innings of 158 in the very first match of IPL history and that showed the audience what IPL and T20 Cricket was all about.

One of those batsmen who can make amazing utilization of the fielding restrictions, Brendon McCullum comes under the category of a 360-degree batsman, having the ability to play all around the park. Having retired from international cricket in 2016, McCullum has not played a lot of competitive cricket and it is fair to say that he might be towards the fag end his career.

Nonetheless, the Kiwi batsman, who can also keep wickets, has played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions in the past will don the Royal Challenger Bangalore jersey in Season 11. McCullum will remain one of the finest stroke players to have ever played the IPL, long after he retires.